Strains

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — On a day that feels almost poetic in its promise of change, Ethiopia and Somalia are ready to close the book on their long-standing tensions and step hand in hand into a promising new chapter of cooperation and friendship. Imagine this: two neighbors who have shared so much—both the good times and the not-so-good—deciding to bury the hatchet and work together for a brighter future. That's the story Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mesganu Arga, shared with ETV. During his interview, he…

"Oh, the political temperature is rising in North Western State of Somalia!" exclaimed a supporter of the opposition Waddani party, captured by the lens of LUIS TATO. In the heart of a diplomatic firestorm, North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared independent region splintered from Somalia, gears up for a Wednesday presidential showdown during a tumultuous spell in the Horn of Africa. Perched at Somalia's northwest tip, this territory broke free in 1991, maintaining a level of tranquility and calmness that its…

FILE - Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama – Official X account There's a significant shake-up brewing with Somalia's stance on engagement in regional security. In a strategic twist reported by Hiiran, November 2024, the Somali government intends to shut the door on Ethiopian military participation in the upcoming African Union mission. This mission, slated to kick off in January 2025, is set to take over from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Explaining this landmark decision on…

Mogadishu (AX) — Masterminding a move towards renewed governance, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre unveiled fresh appointments on Monday. A new state minister for the Ministry of Planning and Investment and a deputy for the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education took the stage, replacing their predecessors who recently bowed out of the political scene. Stepping up as the freshly minted state minister for Planning is Ahmed Nor Sheikh Mohamed Loxox, while Abdirashid Mohamed Du'ale slides into the Deputy…

In East Africa, the moment is now for proactive peace efforts. Recently, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud approached a Turkish Navy vessel at Mogadishu's port following the inked defense and economic deal with Turkey. This event took place in Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 23, 2024. Photo by Feisal Omar/REUTERS. Last time America stood on the brink of election frenzy, Ethiopia was stirring with potential conflict. The central government’s friction with the Tigray province erupted in tandem with the U.S. election day in…

In a striking announcement, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia’s chief diplomat, articulated that the Ethiopian Embassy, nestled within the Somali Presidential Palace since 2007, would remain put for the moment, despite simmering discontent from the Somali authorities. Ethiopia set up its embassy in Villa Somalia after its military marched into Mogadishu in December 2006. This intervention was intended to bolster the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) against rebel factions, notably the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).Although…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — In the face of regional discord, Somalia stands by its robust defense agreement with Egypt, harmonizing with its foreign policy to enhance its security framework, though ruffling feathers, particularly in Ethiopia. The pact, reminiscent of Somalia’s strategic alliances with the U.S., EU, Turkey, and nations in the Gulf, drew skepticism from Ethiopia. Concerns revolve around potential military intensification, fueled by maritime disputes and Egypt’s longstanding Nile River tensions. Hussein Sheikh Ali,…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Astke Selassie, has voiced alarming concerns over recent influxes of arms heading to Somalia. He cautioned that these weapons might escalate regional conflicts and potentially be seized by terrorist factions, as reported by Ethiopia's state news agency on Tuesday. A wave of worry emerged after an Egyptian warship docked in Mogadishu, offloading a hefty load of heavy weaponry. This marks the second significant arms shipment to Somalia in just one month. This follows a…

Amid growing military camaraderie with Mogadishu, Cairo has issued a travel alert citing security fears.Egypt has cautioned its citizens against traveling to North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared but internationally unrecognized region of Somalia, due to mounting safety concerns. The tension in the Horn of Africa continues to escalate.Cairo has been backing Somalia politically and militarily amid its clash with North Western State of Somalia, which proclaimed independence in 1991 but hasn't been recognized…

    This week's episode of The Horn features an intriguing discussion as Alan sits down with Omar Mahmood, the senior analyst for Eastern Africa at Crisis Group, to delve into the growing tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, the new Egypt-Somalia defense agreement, and the outlook for peacekeeping missions in Somalia. Kicking off the fresh season of The Horn, Alan converses with Omar Mahmood about the complex web of regional frictions involving Somalia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. They're set to examine the uncertain future of…